Well drilling machine



June 13, 1939. H. H. ELMIRE 2,162,005

WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2.1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l ',l, l/ 'ml' .kl 547 45 .12' 5 4', \5 e1 ATTORN EY June 13, 1939. H. H, ELMlRE WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Howard H. f/m/re BY f. QM

ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to well drilling machines.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a well drilling machine in which the length of stroke or reciprocation on the part of the tools employed may be increased or decreased Without in any way interfering with operation of the machine.

It is a well known fact that in well drilling it is often desirable to change the stroke of the tools in order to procure the most efcient results. Such changes in stroke are advisable for various reasons, such for instance, as the changes in formation or strata through which the tools are passing or the depth of the well being drilled.

With well drilling machines in use at the present time it is necessary to shut the machine down for approximately a half an hour and oftimes more in order to effect a change in the length of stroke and a more or less involved and laborious operation is required in making the adjustment. The parts that have been adjusted often work loose thus causing breakage sometimes laying the machine up for considerable periods of time. It frequently happens the driller will not get the correct adjustment and the operation must be repeated. Thus considerable valuable time is lost. In a false effort to save this time or because he does not wish to undertake the hard work of making an adjustment a driller will often keep his machine running when he knows the tools are not reciprocating with the proper stroke. This has most serious results, in that the machine is operating far from efciently, the drilling tools may be injured or they may even break avvay from the cable, thus causing very expensive fishing operations.

In accordance with the present invention the length of the stroke of the tools may be varied at any time and any amount Within the limits of the machine with a minimum amount of effort and without stopping the machine for an instant. Thus a great amount of time is saved and a maximum amount of efficiency is obtained by the machine.

The invention will be fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part thereof. Referring to said drawings:

50 Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away and parts in section of a well drilling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail View taken on line 2 2 of Fig, 1;

55 Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail crosssectional views taken respectively on lines 3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a somewhat different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken 5 on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail cross-sectional views taken on line 1 1 and 8-8 respectively of Fig. 5.

The invention is particularly adapted to the type of well drilling machine illustrated and de- 10 scribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 124,822, led February 9, 1937, and reference may be had thereto. However, it is to be understood it is applicable to other known types of machine.

AIn order to preserve simplicity and clarity in the 15.

drawings a number of parts not thought pertinent to the invention have been omitted. Among these parts are the sand reel and its associated parts, the driving connections to the cable storage drum, the brakes, and other parts. 20

Referring again to said drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, rigid double frame is provided which may be of any desired construction.

As illustrated it comprises cross beams 5, sills 6, uprights 1 and 8 and angularly disposed rein- 25 forcing members 9, I0 and I I, all suitably secured together.

A cable-storage drum I2 is mounted on the frame between the two sides thereof and this drum-carries a suitable amount of cable I3. As 30 heretofore stated the conventional brake and driving mechanism for the drum have not been illustrated.

What is termed a stationary sheave I5 is mounted on a shaft IB which is carried by the 35 angularly disposed reinforcing member 9. The sheave I5 is free to rotate on the shaft I6 but is stationary as far as any actual body displacement is concerned.

The cable I3 passes from the cable-storage 40 drum I2 overfthe sheave I5 and under a movable sheave I1. The movable sheave is rotatably mounted on a pin I3 carried by a pair of beams I9, hereinafter referred to as the beam I9. The beam I9 is adjustably pivoted at 20 and it is 45 tothe arrangement of this pivot that the p-resent invention is particularly directed. The rest of the mechanism will be generally described before going into a detailed description of the adjustable pivot.

Links 2S are pivoted at one end to the pin I8 and at the other end to a pin 21 carried by another pair of beams 28 which will hereinafter be referred to as the beam 28 and this beam is pivotally mounted on a shaft 22. The cable I3 55 36 block is slidabl'y mounted in a channel-shaped tegral therewith a threaded stem 54.

passes from under the sheave II to the crown pulley 29 supported by a derrick 3U and thence to the drilling tools 3| the derrick, crown pulley and drilling tools being schematically illustrated.

Means are provided for reciprocating the beams I9 and 28 and the sheave I'I in a vertical.

plane. One end of a pitman 35 is pivoted at 36 to the beam 28 and the opposite end is pivoted at 31 to a crank 38 which in turn is secured to` a shaft 39. The shaft 39 has a gear 4I secured thereto and this gear meshes a pinion 42 which is on the shaft 43, a pulley 44 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 43 and a belt'45 passes over this pulley and another one 46 on a shaft Y4I which is driven'by a suitable motor or engine indicated at 48.

It will be apparent that as the beams I9 and 28 reciprocate the sheave IFI' the tools 3| will be raised and dropped through the medium of the cable I3. As heretofore stated it is important to have absolute control of the. amount of reciprocation of the tools. VBy moving the pivot Y2II of the beam I9'toward or away from the pivot 22 lthe stroke ofthe sheave I'I Ywill be decreased or Vincreased and it followsV the amount of reciprocation of the tools will consequentlybe effected in a similar manner. Iny accordance with the in- YventionV means are provided for moving thispivot without, even momentarily, interfering with the operation of the drilling machine. While two means for doing this are illustrated and'described it is to be understood'numerous other methods might be devised and they are to be construed as being the equivalent of that illustrated.

The shaft 20 is carried in a block 50 and this arrangement is such that the block 50 may slidein the guide but cannot be moved out of engage- YmentV with the guide.

The block 50 has secured thereto or made in- The threaded stem-54 is engaged by a nut 55 which is free Vtorrrotate but is fixed against longitudinal f movement by Ya set screw 56. Y

'Ihe nut 55 may be secured to or made'integral with a sprocket 51 and a sprocket chain 58r connects this sprocket with another sprocket 59 carried by a shaft 60. A hand wheel 6I is secured to the shaft B at any appropriate location and from the foregoing it is thought to be apparent that manipulation of this hand wheel will raise or lower the pivot shaft 20 and thus decrease or increase the reciprocation or stroke of the tools without interfering with Ythe* operation of the machine. It will also be noted thatrvery fine adjustments may be obtained with the greatest of facility and dispatch. While as heretofore stated this mechanism is particularly adapted to this type of machine Yitis to be understood it may be applied to other known machines.

Referring to Figs. to 8 similar reference characters denote similar parts and only those parts of the machine necessary to an' understanding of the Yinvention havefbeen illustrated. In. Figs. l

to 4 the pivot adjusting means might be said t'o be located generally in the center of themachineV while 'at Figs.Y 5 to 8 the pivot adjusting meansV is located on the sides of the machine. This makes for greater accessibility. both as to. instal- `but heldl against longitudinal lation and for making any repairs or adjustments that might be necessary at future times.

'Ihe pivot adjusting means is advantageously positioned on the angularly disposed reinforcing members 9. However this is just a matter of expediency and not necessity as in a machine where these members are non-existent Vother supporting means would be provided to carry the pivot adjusting means. As both sides of "the machineare duplicates Withthe exception of the control means a description of one will suffice fo both.

Guides 'I0 are suitably secured to the reinforcing members 9 and slidable blocks 'II are mounted in these guides. The pivot shaft 20 is extended on both sides and is carried by the blocks 'I I. As in the form of the* invention heret'ofore described theblocks II have threaded extensions 12. made integral therewith or suitably secured thereto.

A stationary Vblock 'I3'forms the lowerend of the guide and a nut 'I4v which is free to rotate movement is mounted in the block 13.' This nut engages the threaded stem I2 and' is secured to or formed integralwith a sprocket 15. A sprocket chain 'I6 connects the sprockets 'I5 so as to insure both sprockets moving simultaneously and in synchronism with each other.

One of the sprockets 'I5 has an additional sprocket 'I1-secured thereto or made a part thereof and a sprocket chain I8 connects the sprocket 'I'I with another sprocket 'I9 secured to shaft I0 mounted in suitable bearings on either side of the frame. A hand wheel 8I is secured to the outer end of the shaft 80V for manipulation thereof.

From the foregoing it is thought to be apparent that as the hand wheel 8l is turned in one direction or the other the beamV pivot 29 will be moved toward or away from the pivot 22 and the stroke of the tools will be decreased or increased. It is again desired to call attention to the fact of being able to Vcontrol the amount of reciprocation or stroke of the tools with the most minute degree of accuracy. 'I'he common method of changing the stroke of the tools is by moving a-crank pin from one-hole to another. It often happens the most desirable stroke of the tools willV be obtained at some intermediate position it isY impossible to attain. Thus, by having absolute control of the amount of stroke of the tools, the most emcient results are obtained with great saving of time and energy. Y

Such changes in details of construction and arrangements of Darts as would occurto one skilled in the art are to be considered as comingv within the spirit ofthe invention asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A well drilling machine having in combination, a frame, a cable-storage drum, a stationary sheave, a pair of beams pivotally mounted in saidf 2. A well drilling machine having in combina-- '7Iii tion, a frame;V a cable-storage drum,.a stationary sol sheave, a pair of beams pivotally mounted in said frame, a sheave carried by said beams, a derrick, a crown pulley carried by said derrick, a cable passing from said storage-drum over said stationary sheave, under said sheave carried by said beams and over said crown pulley, drilling tools carried by said cable, means whereby said movf able sheave is reciprocated in a vertical plane,

and means in permanent operative relation with the pivot of one of said beams whereby said pivot may be moved in relation to the pivot of the other of said beams to vary the stroke of the drilling tools carried by said cable, said means being operable while said machine is functioning.

3. A well drilling machine having in combination, a frame, a cable-storage drum, a stationary sheave, a beam pivoted in said frame, a sheave carried by said beam, a cable passing from said storage-drum over said stationary sheave and under the sheave carried by said beam, blocks in which the pivot of said beam is mounted, guides for said blocks, and means whereby said blocks may be synchronously moved in said guides so as to vary the stroke of said beam, said means being operable while said machine is functioning.

4. A well drilling machine having in combination, a frame, a cable-storage drum, a stationary sheave, a pair of beams pivotally mounted in said frame, a sheave carried by said beams, a cable passing from said storage-drum over said stationary sheave and under the sheave carried by said beams, means whereby said sheave is reciprocated in a vertical plane, guiding means for the pivot of one of said beams, and means whereby the pivot may be moved in said guiding means so as to vary the stroke of said beam, said means being operable while said machine is functioning.

5. A well drilling machine having in combination, a frame, a cable-storage drum, a stationary sheave, a pair of beams pivotally mounted in said frame, a sheave carried by said beams, a derrick, a crown pulley carried by said derrick, a cable passing from said storage-drum over said stationary sheave, under said sheave carried by said beams and over said crown pulley, drilling tools carried by said cable, means whereby said movable sheave is reciprocated in a vertical plane, blocks in which the pivot of one of said beams is mounted, guides on said frame for said blocks, and means whereby said blocks may be synchronously moved in said guides so as to vary the stroke of the drilling tools carried by said cable, said means being operable while said machine is functioning.

Y 6. A well drilling machine having in combination, a frame, a cable-storage drum, a stationary sheave, a pair of beams pivotally mounted in said frame, a sheave carried by said beams, a derrick, a crown pulley carried by said derrick, a cable passing from said storage-drum over said stationary sheave, under said sheave carried by said beams and over said crown pulley, drilling tools carried by said cable, means whereby said movable sheave is reciprocated in a vertical plane, blocks in which the pivot of one of said beams is mounted, guides on said frame for said blocks, threaded stems secured to or forming a part of said blocks, nuts engaging said threaded stems, said nuts being free to rotate but xed against longitudinal movement, and means whereby said nuts may be synchronously rotated to move said blocks in said guides so as to vary the stroke of being operable while said machine is functioning.

HOWARD I-I. ELMIRE. 

